The Philippines high school shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato has left at least one person dead and several others injured, according to local officials.
The incident took place on Friday afternoon at the school in Banga, located in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Authorities have not yet confirmed the identities of the victims or the person responsible for the shooting.
Conflicting reports have emerged over the number of casualties. South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo said one person had died and four others had been taken to hospital, while local media reported significantly higher figures based on information from other Philippine authorities.
Philippines High School Shooting Prompts Official Response
The Department of Education said it was “deeply concerned by the reported shooting incident” and that its immediate priority was protecting students, teachers and other school personnel.
The department said it was working with authorities to verify information about the incident and provide the necessary support.
“We urge everyone to remain calm and refrain from sharing unverified information as authorities continue their investigation,” the department said.
Governor Tamayo also confirmed the death and hospitalisations but did not provide details about the identity of the shooter. He did not indicate whether the suspected shooter was among those killed or injured.
South Cotabato Shooting Leads to Class Suspension
Classes have been suspended at all levels throughout the municipality of Banga following the incident.
Banga disaster management authorities announced the suspension as emergency services responded to the shooting and authorities continued their investigation.
The Philippine Red Cross has also deployed medical teams to assist following the incident. Police were reported to be at the school investigating what happened.
Officials have urged the public to avoid spreading information that has not been verified while authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Mindanao School Shooting Under Police Investigation
The Philippines high school shooting comes amid wider concerns about gun violence in the country, where gun ownership is relatively widespread compared with other countries in the region.
However, school shootings remain rare in the Philippines.
The latest incident follows another deadly school shooting in June, when three students were killed and others injured after fellow students opened fire at a high school in central Philippines.
Investigators in that case believed the attack was motivated by a “grudge” connected to bullying.
Philippines Gun Crime Raises School Safety Concerns
Authorities have not yet established the motive behind the Banga National High School shooting, nor have they confirmed the identities of those involved.
The conflicting casualty figures have also made it difficult to establish the full impact of the incident while the investigation remains underway.
The Department of Education has asked people to remain calm as officials verify reports, while emergency responders and police continue working at the scene.
Further details about the victims, the suspected shooter and the circumstances leading to the South Cotabato shooting are expected as authorities continue their investigation.